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Department of Architecture

 

Jonathan F. P. Rose (President, Jonathan Rose Companies)

Today's cities are technical marvels, reflecting civilization's enormous scientific strides. Human creativity has produced unimagined power and prosperity, although that prosperity has come at a price: it is poorly distributed, and it is fostering the next great extinction. By the end of the 21st century, 80% of the world's human population will live in cities. If we are to address these problems, cities must be part of the solution. We must knit these threads - our technical, cognitive and social potential and the generative power of nature-back together, toward a higher purpose for cities.

Drawing from the musical concept of "temperament" as a way to achieve harmony, Jonathan FP Rose argues that well-tempered cities can be infused with systems that bend the arc of their development toward equality, resilience, adaptability, well-being, and the ever-unfolding harmony between civilization and nature. The seeds of these systems are present today in cities around the world. The purpose of this talk is to show how they might come together in a time of increasing volatility, complexity, and uncertainty.

Mr. Rose will describe key elements that gave rise to the birth of urban empires, and how these apply to the issues of the 21st century. He will also describe how his firm is applying these today to his development and affordable housing preservation projects, including Via Verde, and the forthcoming Sendero Verde.

Jonathan F.P. Rose's business, public policy and not-for-profit work all focus on creating a more environmentally, socially and economically responsible world. In 1989, Mr. Rose founded Jonathan Rose Companies LLC, a multi-disciplinary real estate development, planning, consulting and investment firm, as a leading green urban solutions provider. The firm has completed $2.3 billion of work, much of it in close collaboration with cities and not-for -profit organisations. Mr Rose is a thought leader in affordable housing, smart growth and developing communities of opportunity.

Date: 
Monday, 27 March, 2017 - 17:00 to 19:00
Event location: 
Lecture Room 1, Department of Architecture